Says Nigerians are not fooled by disruptive political tactics of Amaechi and his allies
Not true, ex VP’s efforts driven by Nigerians’ aspirations for a better life, says Aide
Emeka Agu with agency report
The All Progressives Congress (APC), on Monday, criticised former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, and former Kaduna Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, describing them as persons united by desperate desire to return to power for selfish gain.
The APC was reacting to remarks made by the three politicians about President Bola Tinubu’s economic policies during Amaechi’s 60th birthday lecture in Abuja on May 31, saying they are simply “frustrated rent-seekers clinging to a fading political relevance”.
Recall that Amaechi’s 60th birthday lecture in Abuja on May 31, Atiku, Amaechi, and El-Rufai criticised Tinubu, holding him responsible for the growing poverty in Nigeria.
In a statement issued on Monday, National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Felix Morka, berated Atiku, Amaechi and El-Rufai for blaming President Tinubu over a problem they also failed to eradicate in almost 25 years their party was in control.
The statement reads in part: “In all 24 years, the trio, individually or collectively, could not and did not eradicate poverty in their states or the country. They did not even attempt to address, let alone tackle, the structural challenges and distortions that stifled the economy and worsened poverty over the years.
“Rather, they revelled in mindless rent-seeking behaviour, sold national assets to their cronies for mere pittance, engaged in corrupt and wasteful expenditures in their states, and relentlessly sponsored state violence against their own people.
“Take the case of Amaechi, the celebrant, who served for an unbroken total of 24 years – eight years as Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, eight years as Governor of Rivers State, and eight years as Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. That’s about a quarter of a century of freeloading by Amaechi on state resources, with absolutely no record of attempting to combat poverty in his Rivers State or the country.
“When Amaechi declared, I am hungry, he must mean, and must be understood to mean, that he is hungry and desperate to return to his felt entitled dependency on state resources and patronage. That he is hungry barely two years out of office simply underscores the depth of the self-serving motivations of Amaechi and his coalition partners in their quest for power for selfish exploitation, and not for the interest of the people.”
The APC claimed that Nigerians are not fooled by what it described as the disruptive political tactics of Amaechi and his allies, noting that they are steadily losing their influence over the economy.
According to the APC, Atiku, Amaechi, and El-Rufai who were used to exploiting the system are now being forced to adjust to President Tinubu’s groundbreaking reforms, which prioritize hard work, productivity, and innovation over personal gain.
Morka stated: “On the contrary, it was the failure of previous administrations, particularly 16 years of PDP administrations, to allow the Naira to find its real value that created the economic conditions of poverty that the present administration is now addressing.
“The erstwhile artificially overvalued Naira stifled local production, encouraged import dependency, and exacerbated poverty. Ironically, Atiku and Peter Obi, who are now vociferously criticizing President Tinubu’s policies, amassed their wealth from the very import-dependent system they are desperately trying to preserve.
“Atiku, a former Customs Officer, and Obi, a successful importer, reaped enormous benefits from the old system. Their criticisms reek of special interest masqueraded as concern for the people. By allowing market forces to determine the Naira’s value, the administration is taking necessary bold steps to catalyze economic growth, incentivize investment, boost competitiveness, and alleviate poverty.
“Indubitably, in two years, President Tinubu has demonstrated political will to tackle structural barriers to the country’s economic growth and development far more than any other President in Nigeria’s modern history. By his bold economic reforms, President Tinubu is systematically building the most potent bulwark against poverty and positioning the economy to deliver sustained and sustainable growth and prosperity for all Nigerians. “
The party asserted that their attacks on Tinubu’s reforms are purely self-serving, motivated by a desperate ambition to regain power and satisfy their insatiable appetite for rent-seeking an approach that has long hindered the nation’s economic progress.
“The criticisms variously levelled by Amaechi, Atiku, El-Rufai and Peter Obi mask a shameless attempt to perpetuate and cling to the old rent-seeking economy that enriched them at the expense of the Nigerian people.
“As beneficiaries of the corrupt and inefficient economic system, they are discomforted that Tinubu’s reforms are dismantling the insidious and permissive system that enabled and sustained their reckless plunder and exploitation of the economy.
“Meanwhile, Nigerians in productive sectors are reaping the benefits of reforms that have increased opportunities and income. Entrepreneurs, farmers, and service providers are thriving, while rent-seekers like Amaechi and his coalition partners are left seething with rage at the disruption of their ability to milk the system for personal gain as before.
“The removal of fuel subsidy has been a game-changer. It ended massive corruption that plagued the fuel subsidy enterprise, eliminated perennial shortages and queues at petrol stations, and has sparked a surge in investments in the oil and gas and other sectors of the economy, further expanding opportunities for businesses and individuals,” the statement added.
APC insisted that the harmonisation of multiple exchange rates has further bolstered Nigeria’s competitiveness in the global market for goods and capital.
“With increased revenue, the federal, state, and local governments are now investing more in critical infrastructure, education, health, security, and social welfare.
“Importantly, states that previously struggled to pay N30,000 minimum wage are now paying a significantly higher minimum wage of N70,000 per month. This is a testament to the administration’s commitment to improving the welfare of Nigerians.
“The President’s reforms are dawning a new day for Nigeria, now witnessing economic transformation never before seen in our country’s history, driven by proper pricing of the Naira and fuel, and steadily transitioning the country from a consumption-laden to a production-oriented economic powerhouse,” the APC stated.
However, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, has said that his efforts building a coalition to contest for power were driven by Nigerians’ aspirations for a better life, adding that the 2027 general election will serve as a referendum on President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Responding to the allegations of the APC in a chat with newsmen on Monday night, Atiku’s Media adviser, Mr. Paul Ibe, said the former VP’s actions were driven by Nigerians’ desire for a better life, not personal gain.
“It’s clear that these people were never prepared for governance. All they’re interested in is politics.
“They’ve gone to extreme lengths to ensure the demise of progress. Every action they’ve taken contradicts the very essence of democracy.
“His Excellency’s efforts are driven by Nigerians’ yearnings for a better life, not because he wants to regain access to state resources. Absolutely not,” he said.
He also defended Atiku’s integrity, contrasting his business achievements with the records of his critics.
“Where were these critics when His Excellency was already well-established long before democracy began in 1999? Atiku has run multi-million-dollar businesses, employed people, and invested his own resources into his campaigns. He’s not looking to exploit state funds like they are,” Ibe stated.
He urged the APC to focus on governance rather than obsessing over Atiku’s activities.
“It’s time they used the remainder of their term to focus on improving Nigerians’ lives instead of obsessing over what Atiku Abubakar is or isn’t doing,” he said.
Ibe stated that the 2027 elections would be a decisive moment for Nigeria, adding “the next election will be between Tinubu and the rest of Nigeria”.
